Thing 21.1 Beyond MySpace:Other Social Networks

FYI -- I think this is the MySpace for Books in Publisher's Weekly article. The link was not functional when I tried in the 23 Things instructions. I posted a comment on the Thing 21 page.
Gather is described in this article dated 12/12/05 (the date could be a problem - over 2 years is a LONG time ago in techtime) as a "mix between a lifestyle portal and a content aggregator...". This is a good description I think. Both Gather and Ning are multitasking sites that offer groups, blogs, photoshare, tagging... They add another layer to the opportunities the web offers. In the article "Building a Social Networking Environment at the Library" the statement is made that the social web "represents a cultural shift towards expression, collaboration and interaction...users are not satisfied with simply reading web pages. They are beginning to expect the opportunity to interact online with...(why not?) their library." This is another of the topics that opens boxes for people who think and talk about librarians of tomorrow. Clearly all aspects of social networking are available to the library --- but which ones are useful? From user/patron/open tagging to collection direction and selection -- some of these areas are still considered sacred by many in the profession. Folksonomy can be a very controversial topic. Collaborating has always required studied awareness of dynamics mixed with grace and tact. Think committees. Campion's article suggests three steps toward becoming interactive libraries: education, application, endorsement. The advocates of Library 2.0 agree that this direction is progress, the detractors have many arguments against. Some of the conversation stoppers use words like "fad" and "hype". So here we are at a Step 1: education=23 Things on a Stick. These 23 Things have, I'm sure, set ideas spinning through the our heads. Will we be able to move on to application? Will our supervisors and directors - after opening these doors and windows to us be able to collaborate with us toward the library of the future?

Thing 21. Beyond MySpace: Other Social Networks

I am walking around in Gather. It is user-friendly and straightforward. I joined so I could look at everything I wanted to see. After about 45 minutes there, I headed over to WebJunction and joined up there. This format is easier on the eyes; the ads in Gather were distracting and alien for me. I found my way to the Minnesota content and the 23 Things on a Stick page, then wandered into the PLA 2008 Virtual Conference which led me over to the ALA site. Yikes, it's a maze and a time sucker. This site is one I'll put on my favorites, the resources will expand my knowledge of my profession. Now over to Ning. I'm a member of Ning and the 23 Things on a Stick group. I uploaded by profile picture. This is my page. I commented on another librarian's post about 23 Things and invited a co-worker/23Thinger to contact me when she gets to #21. I created a group -- Mock Newbery. Adding the widget took some looking around for me -- I got a bit frustrated but finally found it! Look for it in the right hand column. I realize this was Question 2 of "For this Thing" so the next post will discuss the articles in Question 1.